Hi
I am planning a trip in September. Three nights(M,T,W) in Florence and then would like to spend 4 nights(Th,Fr,S,S) in Switzerland. I was thinking about taking the fast train to Milan and need suggestions from there. I want to take scenic train travel through to (Zurich?) or an airport which will fly me back to Ireland for my final leg. Locarno looks lovely. Is this a day trip from Lugano? Or should I consider the Bernina Express as a day trip, spend the night in Chur and find a way to continue back toward Lucerne and spend a night there? I find the train routes very confusing; and I don't want to back-track if I don't have to.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Betty,
For me a map always helps. Look at the the Swiss rail map here: https://www.swisspasses.com/railpass/overviewmap_en.pdf
You need to end up at an airport from which you can fly to Ireland. That would be Zürich or Geneva. But neither of these are in the Alps. You need to stay somewhere in the Alps, and go from there to the airport on your day of departure.
The two obvious places for your 4 nights are:
1) Somewhere in the Berner Oberland above Interlaken (Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnun, Wengen, Mürren etc.)
2) Luzern. Good for boat trips on the lake, and day trips up the local mountains (Riga, Pilatus and above all Titlis: www.titlis.ch ).
The normal choice is (1): This is accessible from Milan (change trains at Spiez), and about 2-3 hours to Zürich airport. Luzern is about 1 hour to Zürich airport.
Going via the Bernina Express is a long detour, but that is the most spectacular route over the Alps, and the only route that goes over the Alps (not through tunnels). In this case Luzern saves travelling time.
Look up times (and prices) on www.sbb.ch and decide a route that is best for you.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17418 posts
I highly recommend the Bernina Express route over any other. We took this route to Venice last September and loved it. We have previously spent a considerable amount of time in Switzerland and have ridden many trains there, but this journey was our favorite.
You do not have to take a designated Bernina Express train, as there are more frequent regular regional trains that use the same tracks and see the same scenery.
Since you are starting in Florence, I suggest you head to Milan and then on to Varenna on Lake Como for your first night ( of four). Next day continue to Tirano (1.5 hours) where you change to the Swiss train over Bernina pass. Overnight in Pontresina, St. Moritz, or at one of the mountain inns along the route if you want more rural experience. Day 3 it is an easy journey to Luzern---no backtracking involved. Spend your third and fourth nights there. You can easily reach Zurich airport from Luzern, so long as your flight is after 11 am or so---it takes only 1 hour 20 minutes from Luzern right to the airport.
Posted by
OP
Lahaina, HI
74 posts
Thanks for your quick and helpful replies. Since I have been introduced to Berner Oberland via a RS tour a couple years ago, I would like to experience different areas. Is it too much to consider a one night stay in three villages along the way?